The metabolism of creatine

Abstract

Neither glycocyamine nor glycollic acid alone increased the total creatinine of the isolated perfused rabbit heart when it was added to the perfusate in a concn. of 7-11 mg./100 ml. When both substances were added to the perfusate the total creatinine was increased and the increase was due to increase in the creatine content of the heart + perfusate. There was no significant disappearance of glycocyamine from the perfusion system when it alone was present in the perfusate. In the presence of glycollic acid an amt. of glycocyamine disappears which was approximately equivalent to the amt. of creatine appearing.-Glycocyamine is apparently converted quantitatively into creatine in the perfused heart in the presence of glycollic acid, glycollic acid acting as a glycocyamine-methylating agent.